Sheet cutting apparatus for printing presses



H. B. DONNING sm'r cu'r'rmc: APPARATUS FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Aug. 28, 1945 I May 2, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HENRY B. Dormme BY A I AJFTORN y 1950 H. B. momma T 2,506,445

SHEET CUTTING APPARATU FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Aug. 28, 1945,, 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y May 2, 1950 H. B. DONNING 2,506,445 sum cu'r'rmc. nmms FOR PRINTING PRESSESX Filed Aug. 28, 1945 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HENRY B. Douume INVENTORP ATTORN E Y PatentcdMayZ, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I cu'rn lfatmmsron mam.mmn.v. ammnimseunemui l This inventionrelates to printing llore particularly, the invention deals with a mechanhndisposedalongthepathoftravei ofasheet thromh the press for cutting the sheet into two ormorepartspriortodeliveryofthesbeetirom the press. Still more particularly, the invention comprises the use of a series of relatively adjustable cutters, with pneumatic means for moving or supporting the sheet adjacent the cutters in the operation of severing the sheet into separate parts. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invenfion are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference charactersineachoftheviews,andinwhich:

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of my improved cutter thereon.

Fig.2isadiaticsectionalviewsubstantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1, with park oftheconstrucfion showninelevation.

Pig.3isasectionsubstantiallyontheline3l for actuating a work sheet conveyor or feed, indicatedindotanddashlinesatll. 'l'heclnin passes over suitable guides as at I5, l6, l1 and II aroundanend sprocket I! atahigher levelthan thedrivesprocket,andalsooveraguidesprocket lldisposcdattheupperendofthechainguide ll. Thechainllisshownpartiallyindetailat theuppm'leftportion ofFig.1,andthischain ha'satspacedintervalstheusualgrippers for thesheetaastheypassfromthecylim derllandarecarriedupwardlyandthentothe leftforilnaldelivermasindicatedbythearrows Ilandfl. Thesheekarefedtotheim cylinderalongtheconveyorchahihithedirectiinofthe anowsflandfl.

lnpracticeI-alongthepathofmove- 2 portingplateorwallli,whichplate crossscctioninl'igs.2and4ofthedrawing, shownini'rontelevationinrlg.3andpartly Fig.5. 'Ihisplateisofawidthgreater wldthof thesheet26beingprintcd,note lnthisflgureaviewofthechaingrippersi'l shownoneendotthesheetflinmovingthesheetthrough the machine.

and 32, each slotted to receive the key 2!, and alsohavingsetscrewsfl toretainthecutters in predetermined positions of adjustment longitudinally of the shaft 28. Any suitable means may be provided for keying the cutter disc 3| to thehubportions. Theplateorwallliwillhave spaced elongated apertures or openings 34 in connection with which the cutters 3. are alined andintowhichthecuttersposssoastoprotrude the cutter blades slightly beyond the front surface 25' of the plate 25, as seen at 35in Fig.4 of the drawing. The ends of the shaft ll supportcdinbearingsifiandilthelatterbeing adjustably supported on brackets 38 and i! secured in the press frame. djustment bein through the medium of screw bolls, one of which is'shown in detail at ll in Fig. 6 of the This adjustment is to compensate for the wear on the disc cutters and reduction in diameter in re-grinding of cutters. At one side, adjacent the bracket 3!. is another motor supporting bracket ll upon which is adiustably supported a motor 42, the adjustment bein longitudinally of the press in compensating for adjustmentsjof the bearingsliandl'l. Atflisshownaflexible Adjustably supportedin anydesired manner in thepress,forwardlyoftheplate2i,isanair dischargetube ll, which maybe positioned from thefull line positionof Fig. 4, to the dotted line positionshownmsaidflsm.airbeings pplied tothistubeorpipethroughoneendthereofin any desired manner. The pipe hasa series-of nonlm l5 spacedlongitudinally thereof, note Hg. 3 of the drawing, through which air under pres slmeisinthedirectionotthesurfacc II of the plate 25, preferably along an area of this surface adjacent the spaced openings 34, so astoformwhatmybetermed awidecolumn otairwhichwilloperatetosupporttheprinted -mmtoftheprmtedsheetsmdamodatcdwfihggsheetilmflrmtwith thatpartot the'portionoftheguides'llasup- 'thesurtacefl'throughwhichthecutteredgcs,

as at flare exposed, so that as the sheet 28 is drawn up'wardly; over the surface 25', the sheet is slit and-cut -in as many places as cutters are arranged,'for example, the-slits'2i'. shown centrally and at the left of Fig. 3 of the drawing.

In the present construction, three cutters 30 are employed, thus three slits or cuts will be made in the printed sheet 26, dividing the original printed sheet into four printed sheets, which will be delivered from the press at a point adjacent the sprocket l9 and in accordance with conventional press practice. It will be understood that the blast of air discharged from the nozzles ll will be constant on the sheet 26 from the time that one end of the sheet is brought into registering position with thecutters 30, and until the other end of the sheet has passed beyond the cutters to insure cutting of the complete length of the sheet, and forming independent printed sheets delivered from the press.

It will appear from a consideration of Fig. l of the drawing that the plate 25 is arranged just rearwardly of the conveyor chains and the grippers carried thereby, so that the sheet is guided over the surface of the plate 25 and at the same time the air discharge tube together with its nozzles are widely spaced from th surface of the Plate to provide free passage of the conveyor and grippers over the surface 25'.

It will be apparent that while I have shown my invention as applied to a press of specific arrangement and design, that my invention is applicable to any type and kind of printing press where it is practical to associated the sheet shearing mechanism therewith. Furthermore, this mechanism is applicable to the cutting of sheets of an type in different apparatus where it is desired to cut a relatively wide worksheet or strip into narrower strips. In this respect, it will be apparent that the present illustration is intended to show only one adaptation and use of my invention.

Briefly stated, it may be said that my invention comprises a means or method of cutting or sub-dividing workpieces by pneumatically supporting the workpiece upon the surface of a rotatable cutter while the workpiece is drawn over the surface or periphery of the cutter. It is also preferred that the cutter blade or disc be rotated in a direction opposite to the path of drawing movement of the workpiece with respect to the cutter. This type of construction and method of procedure will materially increase the life of the cutter blades employed, and further will insure the formation of accurate and clean cuts in the workpiece. In adjustably supporting the cutters, along the drive shaft, a wide range of cuts in the workpiece is made possible. In the present showing, the spacing of the cutters is equal, but in some instances, irregular spacings would be provided in producing different widths in the resulting cut strips. It will also be apparent that different types and kinds of cutters may be employed, depending entirely upon the type and character of workpiece operated upon. In most instances, however, a continuous edge disc cutter will be employed, preferably bevelled to one side, as seen at 30' in Fig. of the drawing, so as to facilitate sharpenin or grinding.

For purposes of description, the printed sheet can be regarded as a workpiece which is moved or fed over the surface of a supporting member, with cutters so arranged with respect to the member as to have their edges exposed at said surface of the member to engage the workpiece as it is moved over said surface. In this connection it is to be kept in mind that workpieces of different types and kinds can be so moved and cut by my improved cutting mechanism, utilizing the pneumaticmeans, such for example, as the blast of air to support the workpiece firmly upon the surface adjacent the cutters to insure cutting of the workpiece.

It will be apparent that my improved pneumatic mechanism utilized for control of the support or holding of a sheet or workpiece upon a surface, can be utilized in supporting or holding the sheet or workpiece on marking or workpiece engaging elements of any type or kind, where pressure engagement with the elements is desired or wherein it is desirable to firmly support and backup the sheet or workpiece at or adjacent the point of engagement by the element or elements.

From the standpoint of discharge of the blast of air or series of spray discharges, it will be understood that this air may be controlled at a temperature which would be beneficial to assist drying or setting of a print or other deposit disposed on the sheet. Further, the spray discharges from the nozzle may also include a coating, finishing or other solution for characterizing or surfacing the sheet or workpiece as it passes through the machine.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In printing presses, the combination with means for feeding and guiding a sheet through the press, of a plate positioned along the path of movement of a printed sheet through the press, said plate having transversely alined openings. means rotatably supporting a plurality of disc type cutters in registering position with the openings in said plate and for exposure through the surface of the plate to engage a sheet moved over said surface by said sheet feeding means, and means for discharging blasts of air in a long wide column onto that side of the sheet which is opposite to said plate to firmly urge the sheet against the surface of said plate adjacent, between and beyond said cutters to insure cutting the sheet in its passage over said surface.

2. In printing presses, the combination with means for feeding and guiding a sheet through the press, of a plate positioned along the path of movement of a printed sheet through the press, said plate having transversely alined openings, means rotatably supporting a plurality of disc type cutters in registering position with the openings in said plate and for exposure through the surface of the plate to engage a sheet moved over said surface by said sheet feeding means, means for discharging blasts of air in a long wide column onto that side of the sheet which is opposite to said plate to firmly urge the sheet against the surface of said plate adjacent, between and beyond said cutters to insure cutting the sheet in its passage over said surface, and means for rotating said disc cutters.

3. In printing presses, the combination with means for feeding and guiding a sheet through the press, of a plate positioned along the path of movement of a printed sheet through the press, said plate having transversely alined openings. means rotatably supporting a plurality of disc type cutters in registering position with the openings in said plate and for exposure through the surface of the plate to engage a sheet moved over said surface by said sheet feeding means, means for discharging blasts of air in a long wide column onto that side of the sheet which is opposite to the press, of a plate positioned along the path of movement of a printed sheet through the press, said plate having transversely alined openings, means rotatably supporting a pluralit of disc type cutters in registering position with the openings in said plate and for exposure through the surface of the plate to engage a sheet moved over said surface by said sheet feeding means, means for discharging blasts of air in a long wide column onto that side of the sheet which is opposite to said plate to firmly urge the sheet against the surface of said plate adjacent, between and beyond said cutters to insure cutting the sheet in its passage over said surface, means for rotating said disc cutters, means adjustably supporting the last named means and said cutters to control projection of cutters through the surface of said plate, the rotatable support for said cutters comprising an elongated shaft, and means adjustably supporting the cutters longitudinally of the shaft.

5. In printing presses, the combination with means for feeding and guiding a sheet through the press, of a plate positioned along the path of movement of a printed sheet through the press, said plate having transversely alined openings, means rotatably supporting a plurality of disc type cutters in registering position with the openings in said plate and for exposure through the surface of the plate to engage a sheet moved over said surface by said sheet feeding means, means for discharging blasts of air in a long wide column onto that side of the sheet which is opposite to said plate to firmly urge the sheet against the surface of said plate adjacent, between and beyond said cutters to insure cutting the sheet in its passage over said surface, means for rotating said disc cutters, means adjustably supporting the last named means and said cutters to control projection of cutters through the surface of said plate, the rotatable support for said cutters comprising an elongated shaft, means adjustably supporting the cutters longitudinally of the shaft, said air discharge means comprising an elongated tube having longitudinally spaced nozzles directed toward said'plate, and said tube and nozzles being movable into different positions with respect to the surface of said plate adjacent the openings in said plate.

6. The combination with a printing press having sheet conveyor means, of means positioned at a predetermined point along the sheet conveyor means for cutting a sheet in movement through the press by said conveyor means, said last named means comprising a cutter, a support for the sheet adjacent the cutter, and means comprising air blasts forming a long wide column for forcing and holding a sheet against the support adjacent and beyond said cutter as the sheet is moved relatively to the cutter bysaid first named means.

'7. The combination with a printing press hav ing sheet'con'veyor means, of means positioned at a predetermined point along the sheet conveyor means for cutting a. sheet in movement through the press by said conveyor means, said last named means comprising a cutter, a support for the sheet forming along wide columnforforcing and holding a sheet against "the support .adjacentand, beyond said cutter as the sheet is'moved relatively to the cutter by said first named means, and means adjusting the position of the cutter to control positioning thereof on said sheet.

8. The combination with a printing press having sheet conveyor means, of means positioned at a predetermined point along the sheet conveyor means for cutting a sheet in movement through the press by said conveyor means, said last named means comprising a cutter, a support for the sheet adjacent the cutter, means comprising air blasts forming a long wide column for forcing and holding a sheet against the support adjacent and beyond said cutter as the sheet is moved relatively to the cutter by said first named means, means adjusting the position of the cutter to control positioning thereof on said sheet, and means adjusting the position of the cutter toward and from the sheet.

9. An apparatus for cutting strips or sheet workpieces, a workpiece supporting member, cutters exposed through one surface of said member at spaced intervals, means for feeding the workpiece over said surface of the member and the cutters exposed therethrough, and means arranged transversely of the path of movement of said workpiece for directing a long wide column air blast onto the workpiece to firmly support the workpiece on said surface of said member adjacent, between and beyond all of said cutters.

10. An apparatus for cutting strips or sheet workpieces, a workpiece supporting member, cutters exposed through one surface of said member at spaced intervals, means for feeding the workpiece over said surface of the member and the cutters exposed therethrough, means arranged transversely of the path of movement of said workpiece for directing a long wide column air blast onto the workpiece to firmly support the workpiece on said surface of said member adjacent, between and beyond all of said cutters, said cutters comprising discs, a shaft supporting said discs, means adjustably supporting the discs longitudinally of the shaft, and means for rotating said shaft and the discs thereon.

11. The combination with means for feeding a workpiece through a machine and relatively to workpiece engaging elements arranged in predetermined position in the machine, of means for applying a wide column air blast onto the workpiece for moving the workpiece'into engagement with said elements in the passage of the workpiece through the machine, and said means being I arranged transversely of the path of movement of the workpiece through the machine whereby said column air blast will contact transverse successive sections of the workpiece as it passes through the machine.

HENRY B. DONNING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

